Istanbul hides an old, actually very old historical aqueduct. The Maglova Aqueduct built by Mimar Sinan is 260 m long and 36 m high, decked with two-storeyed arches. It also functioned as a pedestrian bridge, thanks to a passage running through the piers of the arches. Sinan managed to blend the bearing and functional elements into a work of art. The first aqueduct was destroyed by violent floods (1563) so Sinan obviously went to greater lenghts in his second attempt. The reconstruction of the "Maglova" aqueduct in 1563 was even more expensive, over 50 million akçe. "The Maglova Aqueduct", a thing of exceptional strength and beauty that is sadly no longer accessible to
casual visitors.

How to get there?

The documentary

The documentary, which was produced and directed by Umut Mete Soydan, has received funding from the Directorate General of Cinema at the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Among the consultants selected for the project are NTV historian Hüseyin Irmak, Water Foundation Deputy Chairman Associate Professor Ali Uyumaz and Vice Dean Professor Nur Urfalıoğlu from the Faculty of Architecture at the Abdullah Gül University. The 36-meter-high and 258-meter-long Mağlova aqueduct is one of the most significant parts of the citys historical waterway. Located on the borders of the Alibeyköy Dam, the Mağlova Aqueduct has been standing strong for 450 years. The aqueducts, reservoirs, cisterns and fountains were built during the Roman, Byzantine and the Ottoman periods as a response to the lack of fresh water resources in the city. The artifacts, which were built by the famous Turkish architect, Mimar Sinan, on orders from Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, are full of unique historical, cultural and architectural features.